A consortium behind plans for up to 5000 homes in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, has launched a High Court challenge to the council’s decision to delay giving planning permission for the scheme.

The greenfield site is exempt from housing use under Stevenage district council’s local plan, but that expires next year. However, Hertfordshire county council’s structure plan permits the site to be used for housing.

The consortium, made up of Taylor Woodrow, Persimmon Homes and the Garden Village Partnership, argues that at the time of the local plan inquiry in 2002, the inspector did not have full information on the capacity of brownfield land in Hertfordshire.

It says evidence at a later inquiry on West Stevenage planning applications in 2004 showed there were too few brownfield sites in Hertfordshire for the required housing growth, so the greenfield site should be used.

Andrew Dutton, project director for the consortium, said: “This is all about the timing of delivery of new housing in Hertfordshire, including much needed affordable homes.”

Stevenage council was unable to comment on the legal challenge as Housing Today went to press.

Source

Housing Today